The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has clashed with the Obama administration, particularly over the Affordable Care Act’s coverage of birth control.
Peoria Bishop Daniel Jenky is hopeful that the Trump administration will protect Catholic institutions from having to offer birth control insurance coverage to employees and contraceptive services to patients. He disagrees with critics' assertion that the provision restricts women’s access to birth control.
“I occasionally walk through Walgreens, and I don’t think there’s anybody in this country who is prevented from practicing what we call ‘artificial birth control’ from natural family planning. I think that’s a canard, a fancy word for it’s something invented.”
A majority of Catholics voted for Trump in the presidential election. But a 2016 Pew Research study says 65 percent of Catholics believe employers should provide contraception in employee health care plans.